Go fly a kite!

… and nine other great opportunities to stretch your legs in The Dotte

BY RICK SCHULTE

Don’t look now, but spring may be on its way. And with it comes, for many people, a desire to get out and feel healthy. One advantage Wyandotte has is an abundance of opportunities to exercise, in one form or another.

Our completely unscientific study has come up with 10 ways to usher in springtime. Mind you, we understand snow could return at any time, even into March and April. But this should give everyone a running start, metaphorically speaking.

Golf at Wyandotte Shores

The public course is in its 22nd season this year. The nine-hole, links-style course covers 3,240 yards. Much of the course runs along the river, making it picturesque (especially holes 8 and 9). Keep out of the long grass; it’ll eat your stray shots for lunch.

Walking the Track at Roosevelt

A great place to visit on the weekend (or during the summer once school lets out) is the outdoor track at Roosevelt High School. The appeal is obvious; every circuit is a quarter mile, so it’s easy to keep track of how far you walk on any given day. It’s also a good chance to check out the renovated stadium facilities.

If you go on Sunday mornings, you will likely encounter a game of touch football – entertainment while you log the miles.

Go Fly a Kite

As Charlie Brown would tell you, it’s always good to fly a kite in a large, open area. There are several good locations for that. In the middle of town, the open spaces near Jefferson Elementary School and Wilson Middle School, plus Beaver Park along Ecorse Creek near Goddard are ideal.

Downtown Window Shopping

If you start walking along Biddle at Eureka and head toward Oak Street (and incorporate some trips up and down the various sidestreets) and return to Eureka, it’s possible to see a lot over the course of a mile.

Stopping at any of the quality eateries along the route — which may or may not cut into the healthy theme of a good walk — is entirely up to you.

Skate Park

If you’re a skateboarder, rollerblader or ride a BMX bike, this is for you. Located in Memorial Park (the corner of 20th and Grove streets), this is a challenging structure offering a great opportunity to develop technique and dazzle with skills. Open daily until dusk, participants are encouraged to wear safety equipment.

The park is not supervised, but often teems with a brisk amount of users on warm, dry days.

Bishop Park

If it happens outdoors in Wyandotte, there’s a good chance it happens at Bishop Park. Everything from playground equipment to basketball courts are spread throughout the park’s 12.2 acres. The park fills as the temperatures rise, which makes it a great location to find everything from a Children’s Expo, waterside concerts, parties in the picnic shelters and the occasional open-air church gathering. There’s something for everyone here.

Neighborhood Parks

Pulaski Park, the largest park in town, along with the smaller parks, adds to the outdoor choices. Did you know there are over a dozen parks spread throughout the city? (And that doesn’t include the playgrounds at schools throughout Wyandotte).

Most parents of youngsters already know this: There are plenty of places for kids to run off the pent-up energy, with swings and climbing units in many of the parks.

Got Air in Those Tires?

If you didn’t ride during the winter, springtime is when bicyclists take to the streets. Check your air pressure, put on your helmet and take a spin around town. It’s a healthy chance to see some of the lovely older downtown homes.

Serious riders can also be found along Biddle, who often use it as a route from Grosse Ile through Wyandotte and points north.

Got Bait?

Granted, there aren’t a great deal of calories that get burned off over the course of casting a line in the water. Still, something must be said for the number of anglers who find their way to the Detroit River. A large boardwalk runs along the river, which is home to fishermen.

Please be sure to be mindful of fishing hours and locations.

Dog Day Afternoon

VFW Park (near Cherry and 11th streets) offers Wyandotte residents and their registered canines an opportunity to get out and run and mingle with other dogs. A big part of the park’s allure is a strict adherence to rules designed to keep the park safe and clean. That means dog owners need to register with the Recreation Department to use the park, which features benches and picnic tables for humans, dog drinking fountains and wash stations for the four-legged friends.

Owners must stay in a fenced-in area with their dogs (and, of course, pick up any ‘remnants’ from their dogs). Also, there are two sections to the park — one for smaller dogs, one for larger dogs.